Speed control for automobile torpedoes.



INVENTOR /zm @M E' Patented Mar.9, 1915.

1003.- HOY) Q) J so O ToRP.

W. DIETER.

SPEED CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, )Q5

Fay. 7.

\ l l @l @www WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES rAaTaNT Ormea,

WILLIAM DIETEE, OE NEW YOEK', Ne Y., AssIeNOIt To E. W. BLIss COMPANY,OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION oF WEsT VIRGINIA.

SPEED CONTROL FOR ...AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. a, 19215.

Application 1ed'Apr1l15, 1913. Serial No. 761,291.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAiw DIETER,l a citizen of the United States,residing 1n the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in SpeedControl for Automobile Torpedoes, of which the following is aspecification.

In automobile torpedoes the speed at which any given torpedo will run 1sdetermined by the pressure at which the motive fluid is fed to theengine. This pressure is determined by a pressure reducing valveinterposed between the compressed air reservoir and the engine. Theadjustment of this valve for a given pressure corresponding to a desiredspeed has heretofore been a matter of diiiiculty and some uncertainty.

The present invention is designed to improve and facilitate the speedcontrol of such torpedo.

The invention may be understood from the accompanying drawings whichshow its preferred form.

Figure l is a general view partly in ver# tical vlongitudinal sectionshowing in diagrammatic arrangement those operative parts which arenecessary to an understanding of the invention; Fig. Q is a verticalmid'- section of the reducing valve; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentaryelevations showing this valve set for three different speeds Fig. 6 isan elevation of a box or receptacle for holding the speed gages; Fig. 7is a plan of a modified gage..

Referring to Fig. 1, A .is the hull of the torpedo, B is the compressedair reservoir, C is the starting valve, D is the pressure reducingvalve, E is the usual heater, F is the engine, here shown as a turbine,(i is the propeller shaft, and H indicates the propeller screws. Thepipes a Z) c ,d convey the compressed airV successively from thereservoir to the valves C, D, heater E, and to the engine.

The pressure reducing valve D may be of any suitable type orconstruction. That used in the well known Bliss-Leavitt torpedo is shownin detail in Fig. 2. It comprises a tappet e closing against a seat fforming the opening or passage between the high-pressure inlet b and thereduced-pressure outlet c. This tappet is On a stem g, on which also isfastened a piston k of an area slightly greater than that of the seat f,so that'the airpressure tends tO seat the tappet e. This pressure isresisted by a spring z' reacting against an abutment y' and pressingagainstl the piston L so that its stress tends to unseat the tappet. Thespringt' is inclosed `in""a spring chamber formed by a shell i, into thereduced end or neck la of which screws ah adjusting screw m by means ofwhich the abutment j may be displaced and the spring t' tightened orrelaxed. Hence by adjusting the screw m the valve may be set to deliverair at higher or lower pressures as desired.

vIn order to determine the speed at Which the torpedo shall run, it isnecessary to adjust the reducing valve to deliver aiiwat a pressurecorresponding to kthat speed. In practice, the valve is adjusted todeliver the air at a pressure which should (as determined by computationIor previous experiments) result in the torpedo being driven at a givenspeed. The torpedo is then tested and the speed measured, and if thespeed actually developed Adiffers from that which should result, thevalve is readjusted, and this is repeated if necessary until the precisedesired speed is attained. rlhis operation is repeated for eachof thespeeds at which it is desired to be able to run the torpedo, (say forexample at 20, 25 and 30 knots per hour respectively) l Heretofore ithas been customary to make coinciding marks on the valve shell and screwrespectively for each such speed adjustment. 'F or example these marksmight be made on the exterior of the neck 1 and on a flange m on thescrew. Then before launching the torpedo for a run. the screw was turnedto bring the marks for the desired speed into coincidence. This has beendifficult and objectionable because the marks are obscure and liable tobe confounded one vfor another, so that the operator may set the torpedofor a different speed from that intended; it is also diflicult todetermine the exact coincidence of the marks, and-even a slight varianceis liable to materially affect the speed; and at best this adjustment isone that requires close attention and takes considerahle time, which inactual Warfare would be objectionable as it might delay the launchinguntil the most favorable opportunity for discharging the torpedo hadpassed.

According to the present invention I provide each torpedo. With a seriesof gages each of Which corresponds to a .certain speed. i For example ifa torpedo is designed to travel at speeds of 20,l 2 5l and 30l knotsrespectively, three gages vwill be provided one' for each 'such speedrespectively. If,

the operator desires to set the torpedo to run `'at say-25 knots, he hasonly to select the gage corresponding to that speed and ap- 'ply it tothe reducing valve D, and then adjust the screw fm, to the extentpermitted by this gage. The dimensions of the gages be' 'ing previouslydetermined according to the respective speeds, the engagement of eithergage by the adjusting screw will determine the gage is shown in place,being embracedv between the end of the neck 7c and the flange m on thescrew. In Figs. 3, 4' and 5 the valve is shown provided respectivelywith gages of three different sizes corresponding vto the assumed speedsof 20, 25 and BOlrnotsv respectively.

' In Fig. 6 is shown a box or casing J which accompanies the torpedo andbears its number (in Athis case Torpedo No. 1003") and has holdersforreceiving the respective gages, and is marked-with numbers correspondingto their respective speeds. This box J may be the usual box whichaccompanies each torpedo, and contains all of the special yttings orappurtenances belonging to it; or it may be a special receptacle insidesuch box. It is of course understood that the gages are finished to suchlengths or dimensions as correspond'vto the adjustments of. the screwfor each of the respective speeds desired; such adjustments being madein the same manner as hereinbefore explained.

In the use of the present invention, when it is desired to launch thetorpedo the operator has only to go to the box J, select 'from it thevgage ring of the desired speed, and apply this ringto the reducingvalve. For Athis purpose with the construction shown he has only tounscrew the screw m, slip the gage ring over it and screw it back,tightening it until itsflange closelyy embraces or pinches the gagering. An important advantage'of this inventionv is that after theadjustment has thus been made andnhgjorpedo has been prepared forlaunchiiigfor' after 1t hasbeenplaced 1n the t launching tube, or evenafterit is launched,

.or even Aafter tthe ,end of its'nun, the operaytorlor any one elsehaving access to the box IJ may determine, at what speedthe torpedo ablemodification, not beinglimited to the precise construction shown. As anexample of one'such modiiication, I show in Fig. 7 a gage ring I whichis mutilated, being cut open on one side so that by only partiallyslacking4 olf the screw m the gage may bev .sprung into place and thescrew then re- 'tightened against it. Other modifications i I claim asmy invention' and other forms of gages may be applied.

latingv the pressure of fluid, combined with a speed gage consisting ofa filling piece for determining the adjustment corresponding to a givenspeed.

2. In an automobile torpedo, a reducing valve having a screwV adjustmentfor regul lating the pressure of. fluid, combined with a speed gageconsisting of an annular filling piece adapted to fit beneath the headof such screw for. determining thel adjustment ythereof corresponding toa given speed.

3. In an automobile torpedo, a' reducing valve having a screw adjustmentfor regu lating the pressure of fluid, combined with a series of speedgages consisting offilling pieces lof different sizes .for determiningthe adjustment corresponding to a series t of given speeds.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name inthe presence of tWosubscribing.. witnesses.

" WILLIAM DIETER.

Witnesses: v v

GEO. LEICH, FREDK. C. FLADD.

